Antwerp (Brussels Morning) – Kathleen Van Brempt a Belgian MEP is a strong candidate for the party leader position with significant support in Antwerp but faces challenges in the upcoming elections.
Before the elections on Sunday Van Brempt seemed like a strong candidate for the party leader position. She’s well-known in Antwerp has a lot of experience and had support from a significant group within the party in Antwerp. There was also some uncertainty about whether she would be re-elected to the second position on the European list. This info might be helpful for the list formation committee for the municipal elections on October 13 at Vooruit Antwerpen. They need to finalize the top five on the list by June 29 for the general membership meeting
Will Vooruit Bounce Back in Antwerp After PDA’s Surprise Surge?
Van Brempt expressed on Sunday evening that he understood the challenges he would face referring to the situation as a place of struggle. He went on to describe this election as the best one in the past fifteen years attributing this sentiment to the personal effort he felt compelled to invest. Van Brempt emphasized that he had to rely on his own capabilities and perseverance suggesting a sense of personal accomplishment and resilience in overcoming the obstacles he encountered. This perspective highlights the significance of individual effort and determination in his electoral journey.
Van Brempt got almost as many votes as Bruno Tobback so she’s staying in the European Parliament. She might not lead the party but she’ll likely have a good spot on the Antwerp list. Now all eyes are on Karim Bachar. He’s known for coaching a top indoor football team in Antwerp and the national indoor football team. He’s working on important stuff like fighting discrimination. Bachar got a good number of votes and his background fits well with Vooruit’s image as a progressive party.
Bachar stayed out of the Meeuws-Beels clash so he didn’t upset anyone. Beels took a hit for the fight. In 2018 Beels was a hero for Vooruit in Antwerp but this time she got fewer votes than Gennez. The fight between Beels and Meeuws hurt the party. If Bachar becomes the leader he needs to get better at debates, which he struggles with now especially with elections coming. Councilor Scheck could get a top spot too. Scheck joined after Meeuws left.
PVDA’s Surprise Surge in Antwerp: Vooruit Faces Tough Fight for City Hall
The election results brought surprises. Oskar Seuntjens 25 won a seat in Antwerp with 6,826 votes. Joyce Loridan daughter of trade unionist Marc Loridan received 19,449 votes from the tenth spot on the European list. Ben Segers praised for his work on human trafficking did not get re-elected but might still be placed at the top of the party’s Antwerp list.
In the recent elections, PVDA did really well in Antwerp making Vooruit a bit embarrassed. There’s a big fight brewing for control of the city hall the Schoon Verdiep. PVDA’s popularity surge has come at Vooruit’s expense showing a shift towards left-wing ideas and a desire for change in local leadership.
Vooruit is now dealing with its own issues and a tough opponent. To bounce back Vooruit needs to connect better with voters and address their worries. The battle for the Schoon Verdiep will be fierce with both parties going all out in their campaigns. This fight will decide who runs Antwerp and give a peek into what people are thinking politically. The result will shape the city’s future plans and how it grows.
